https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5s50X3APJQ

THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD – January 8 and January 11, 2023  

God Reveals His Son to men from the East and the world!

ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS – 700 Main St.  P.O. Box 220   Clyman, WI  53016

Pastor Dan 1-(920)-341-2025     shepherdatzion@gmail.com

AS WE GATHER – The darkness of sin and death in our world is real.  Into that sin and darkness God introduces His Son, the Light of the world in which there is no darkness.  Into the darkness of unbelief, God sends a star which leads Gentiles to the Light of the world.  He who is the light of the world, had come, and in Him we are brought out of the darkness of our sin by Baptism.  Today, we pray for His light to fill our darkness, that we may know the fullness of the revelation of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  We pray to the Lord that we may walk in His light even to everlasting life.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

Hymn  “As With Gladness, Men of Old”              LSB  397

 Invocation- In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.    Amen

 Opening Sentences  Based on Psalm 117:2; Isaiah 60:3 –    Great is the steadfast love of the LORD toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Nations will come to His light    and kings to the brightness of His rising.

 Confession and Absolution    Silence for reflection on God’s Word. 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.  For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  Amen.    In His Son who was born for you and died for you, the almighty and merciful Lord grants you His pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins.  I announce that grace to you and by His command, I forgive your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.     Amen.

Psalm    Psalm 72:1– 15  antiphon: v. 18- Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.  Amen and Amen.  Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.  He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.  The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.  He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.  He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.  He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.  In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.  He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.  All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.  For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.  He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.  He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.  Long may he live!  May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.  Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.  Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.   Amen and Amen.

Kyrie                                                                              LSB 186

 Hymn of Praise – Gloria in Excelsis                                                         LSB 187

Prayer of the Day- Heavenly Father, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles.  Lead us, who know You by faith, to remain faithful unto death and enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and

 Old Testament Lesson  Isaiah 60:1–6 – (Arise, shine, for your light has come.)   

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.  “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.  Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.  Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah.  And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

Epistle  Ephesians 3:1–12   (The mystery long hidden has been revealed in Jesus Christ that the Savior is for the Gentiles, not just for the children of Israel.)   

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles–Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.  In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.  This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.  I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.  Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.  His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Verse  Matthew 2:2b – Alleluia.  Where is He who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  Alleluia.

 Holy Gospel  Matthew 2:1–12 – (The star leads the Magi to the Son of God, the Savior, Jesus Christ)             

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the second chapter.       Glory to You, O Lord. 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”  Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, O Christ.

 Hymn “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here”         LSB 399

Sermon

 Nicene Creed – I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.   And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life X of the world to come.    Amen.

Prayers of the Church

 We Gather our Tithes and Offerings

Installation of Officers – this includes retiring, new and members continuing service to come forward

 We Celebrate the Service of the Sacrament 

Proper Preface – It is our good and right that we should give You thanks and  sing Your praise, O Lord, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who was made flesh and manifest to all people as Savior and Lord.  He has rescued us from the darkness of sin and death and united us as one people that we may live to the praise of His glory, now and forevermore. With saints and angels, prophets and patriarchs, apostles and evangelists, and all the company of heaven, we praise Your name and join in their unending hymn:

Sanctus      LSB 195

 Prayer of Thanksgiving – O gracious and almighty Father, from the beginning of the world You set forth the plan of salvation to rescue Your creation from the darkness and death of sin.  Now, in the fullness of time, You have revealed Your Son as the promised Savior and Redeemer, in whom all the world is born again in hope.  As He has kept Your saving will and been born in our flesh to accomplish all things for our salvation, all He has done He has united us as one people by Baptism and faith.  Grant to us this day Your Holy Spirit, that we who come to this altar may through repentance and faith be made worthy to receive Him who comes to us here. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.     Amen

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements  

Prayer – Throughout all generations we have heard Your voice calling to the nations with the promise of mercy, but now, in these last days, we have witnessed Your saving voice call out anew to deliver us from darkness to light and from death to life.  Rejoicing in our Savior Jesus Christ, we plead before You the promise of His mercy, sealed in His death and resurrection, that what He began in us may be made complete.  Deliver us by Your grace from all the enemies of Your Word.  May we rejoice in all He gives us in the blessed Communion of His body and blood and may we celebrate with Him at last in the marriage feast of the Lamb which has no end.    Amen.

Lord’s Prayer – Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.       Amen.

Pax Domini   LSB 197

Agnus Dei     LSB 198

We Celebrate our Lord’s Supper

 Distribution Hymns: “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”  LSB 394                                                                          “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”    LSB 398         “The People that in Darkness Sat”     LSB 412

Post-Communion Canticle

 Nunc Dimittis                                                                LSB 199

Post-Communion Thanksgiving – In Your light, heavenly Father, we see the light of Your grace and life.  Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may see clearly, our Savior Jesus Christ, and trust in Him only.  Bring us with those of every generation, nation and people from darkness into Christ’s light, that in the one true faith we may walk together as the children of the true and only light; through that Light of the world Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray.  Amen.                    

Benedicamus- Let us bless the Lord.    Thanks be to God.

Benediction- The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.  The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.    Amen.

 Hymn:  “Jesus Shall Reign” *ODD verse Only**  LSB 832              

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 *Announcements*

From the Board of Stewardship and Evangelism:  Matthew 2:11 – “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” For the wise men and for us, worshipping and offering gifts go together. How could this not be since our God is the great Giver of gifts? We receive His gifts in worship and then, being conformed to His image, we imitate His generosity.

 The Pew Point – THEME OF THE DAY – The Lord God Is Manifested in the Incarnate Son

 The Feast of the Epiphany centers in the visit of the Magi from the East. In that respect, it is a “Thirteenth Day” of Christmas, and yet it also marks the beginning of a new liturgical season. Where Christmas has focused on the incarnation of our Lord, that is, on God becoming flesh, the Season of Epiphany emphasizes the manifestation or self-revelation of God in that same flesh of Christ. For the Lord Himself has entered our darkness and rises upon us with the brightness of His true light (Is. 60:1–2). He does so chiefly by His Word of the Gospel, which He causes to be preached within His Church on earth, not only to the Jews but also to Gentiles (Eph. 3:8–10). As the Magi were guided by the promises of Holy Scripture to find and worship the Christ Child with His mother in the house (Matt. 2:5–11), so does He call disciples from all nations by the preaching of His Word to find and worship Him within His Church (Is. 60:3–6).

Please be aware that 2023 there are new envelope numbers. So please make sure that you put your name on the envelope so that you get proper credit.

 Brothers and sisters in Christ to lift up in prayer!

1) Greg Schwartz whose surgeries went well.

2) Chris Lamp is home after His surgery, but does not want visitors at this time.

3) Clark, brother-in-law of Tim Dornfeld who is doing well after open heart surgery.

 YES IN CHRIST  —  Saying Yes With Our Treasures  Needed per week to make budget: $3,072            Envelopes $1,865   Plate $5      General Memorial: Eli Dornfeld $50

Attendance:  Sunday Service: 25     Communed: 21     Wednesday Service: 25     Communed: 21

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

 January 12^th – Quilting Resumes 11am to 2pm

***January 14th** 9am  Christmas decorations will be taken down

February 22^nd – Ash Wednesday service at 7pm    Soup supper by the Elders at 6pm

February 29^th – Our Wednesday Lenten services continue at 7pm

On their special day please wish them a Happy Birthday.

 

Larry	1/13
Steve	1/19
Cody	1/20
Brett	1/22
Deanne	1/22
Justin	1/26
Jane	1/29
Lori	1/29
Nancy	1/31

It’s that time of the year and I’m going to need reports from the following people by the end of January.

President – Neal Kohlhoff

Archivist – Tracy Schwartz

Elder – Dan Chaveriat

Cemetery – Nancy Schlender

Treasurer – Erica Goehl

Thanking everyone in advance  Nancy Kohlhoff

 Letters Received – We received three letters and they are from Cindy Wrucke who is a Missionary in the Czech Republic, Pastor & Karen Schempf and Janis Mikits who is the Seminary Student that we are connected with our Seminary Missions. Copies are in the back and in the narthex if you want to pick one up.